Applications with these dates may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card).

EB Class

All Other

CHINA

INDIA

MEXICO

PHIL'PNES

EB-1

C

01JAN12

01JAN12

C

C

EB-2

01JAN16

15MAY13

22AUG08

01JAN16

01JAN16

EB-3

C

01JAN12

15OCT06

C

01NOV15

MU Law Analysis

All Other: The EB-2 has been current for many years. The slight retrogression is temporary and will revert back to Current in October 2017. The EB-3 progression has long been effectively current, and is, in fact, current in this Bulletin.

China (mainland-born): The DOS instituted a retrogression for China EB-1 with the June Visa Bulletin, which remains. The continued high level of demand for EB-1 numbers for USCIS adjustment of status applicants has required the establishment of a date for June. It is expected that this EB-1 retrogression will last until October 2017.

The China EB-2 date again moved up, by about one month. The DOS recently noted that there has been an extremely large increase in EB-3s during the past month. The China EB-3 date remains at January 2012, which is where it was in July. It is now slower than China EB-2.

India: As with China, India EB-1 now is retrogressed. It is expected that this EB-1 retrogression will last until October 2017.

EB-2 India moved ahead by a month. EB-3 India jumped into late 2006, which was a pleasant surprise. The DOS is clearly trying to ensure that all visa numbers are used in FY2016.

Mexico: Mirrors All Other in all aspects.

Philippines: EB-3 moved ahead to November 2015! This is yet another incredible progression. The Philippine EB-3 number essentially cleaned out all of the 2010 through 2015 EB-3 visas in less than one year. This is even more positive than we expected.

Our internal metrics see the Philippine EB-3 number continuing to progress at a rapid clip for the rest of 2017.

The retrogression of the EB-2 (Phils) number is nothing to be concerned about. It will return to Current in October 2017. Note that all EB-2s retrogressed, which reflects heavier demand than usual in the entirety of the EB-2 category.